The former three-time UFC title contender announced his decision on
Tuesday’s episode of “UFC Tonight” on Fuel TV. Sonnen is slated to
headline the
UFC’s Aug. 17 debut on Fox Sports 1, which takes place at TD
Garden in Boston.

“I’ll return to middleweight after beating ‘Shogun,’” Sonnen said.
“There are two guys I want to get matched up with: Vitor
Belfort, because he’s awesome and he’s on an incredible roll,
and Wanderlei
Silva, who I’ve heard is going back to middleweight. The
landscape has completely changed. I’ve got a new contract and I’m
returning to the weight class.”

The longtime member of Oregon’s Team Quest also announced a change
in location and camp.

“I’ve moved to southern California and am training at Reign with
Mark
Munoz,” Sonnen said. “My new contract, which is a five-fight
deal, was finalized today.”

Sonnen, 36, challenged Anderson
Silva for the UFC middleweight crown in 2010 and 2012, coming
up short on both occasions. Following his second loss to “The
Spider,” Sonnen returned to the light heavyweight division for the
first time in more than seven years when he unsuccessfully
challenged 205-pound king Jon Jones at
UFC 159 this past April.